Pride And Prejudice: Women's Expectations Of Marriage

Females have long struggled for rights and equality, and they were often taken advantage of in regards to marriage. The woman’s opinion of the man did not always matter, as long as he was wealthy. If he had too much power, compared to the female in question, his family would not allow him to propose, as she was ‘not worthy’. Society has many expectations for females and marriage, which have forced many to unwillingly conform. Jane Austen uses many character relations throughout Pride and Prejudice to push the expectations society forces on females and marriage. The surprising matrimony between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy proves that marriage for power is not the only kind of marriage. Mr. Collins’ proposal to Elizabeth shows how women want to be treated equally, and the marriage of Lydia Bennet to Mr. Wickham displays how society does not have to affect how marriage takes place, and that it is alright to go against what is believed to be right. The marriage between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet is a …show more content…
Darcy’s wealth: “Mr. Darcy! Who would have thought it! And is it really true? Oh! my sweetest Lizzy! how rich and how great you will be! What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages you will have!” (466) Elizabeth’s mother thinks that Elizabeth is marrying Mr. Darcy because of his wealth. Since he has much more money, that would be Elizabeth’s expected motive. However, Elizabeth got married because she loves Mr. Darcy, and tells her father this: “‘I do, I do like him,’ she replied, with tears in her eyes, ‘I love him.’” (464) Mrs. Bennet also seems much more excited about the money Elizabeth will be entitled to, than she is about her daughter finding love. This reflects upon what was important in marriage in that time, money not love. This marriage for love would have broken what society would have expected, because marriage for love was not as common as it is